Notes
Group run out of Ephraims with Pick, Wolfgang, Wayne and Lou. Got a break with the starting temperature being around 20 rather than the projected 12. First half of the run was a tailwind, which meant for a chilly and slowing headwind on the return.
Pace was pretty relaxed out of the gate and settled into 7:00's after a few miles. My goal was to slip into a tempo after 10, which is when Pick and I broke off downtown to add on a loop around the common before playing catch-up with the rest.
Tempo felt good at first, although challenging with the hills and wind. As usual, the hills on Beacon created some slower miles with the wind having more of an effect than planned. I broke from Pick just before the 14 mile mark as he was unfortunately cooked at that point. Remaining tempo miles were solo, still hitting just above 6 but could never really get down below today with hills and wind. The breaking point was mile 17 which brought me by the reservoir and up the hill by BC. The wind was strongest at this stretch and I just broke falling back to 6:15 pace. To be honest, it felt like 6:00 effort. At the top of the hill I caught the group and settled in with them at the 6:20/6:30 pace the rest of the way in.
Didn't hit my goal 8 at MP (neither the distance met nor the pace) but given the route and wind, I don't know how realistic it was although if we had a group pushing the tempo together, perhaps we could have done it. Still plenty of weeks to go.
Pick wasn't feeling great at the house after the run, not sure if due to the cold, dinner from last night, or just fatigue.